horton's been out since Jan. with a concussion
- Crimsoninja

A concussion induced by our very own Tommy Tostito, if I recall correctly. I don't like to see concussions in anyone, but given the dirty way guys like Lucic, Chara, and Marchand play, I have a hard time feeling bad when it happens to a Bruin.

On another note, is Tostito expected to be healthy for for the playoffs? He'd likely be in the pressbox but if Lavi decides he needs to go with a bulked up physical lineup, I like Tommy over Jody.

Probably late with this:

Mikhail Grabovski's newly signed five-year contract is worth $27.5 million. Grabovski will now come with a cap hit of $5.5 million, which is the second highest on the Maple Leafs. That's quite a lot for Grabovski, who set a new career-high with 58 points last season and is likely to finish a bit below that in 2011-12. Grabovski is a great secondary scorer, but the Maple Leafs are now paying him money worthy of a first liner. He's 28 years old and we don't expect him to get much better than he already is.
Source: James Mirtle on Twitter

Are you kidding me with this signing? Matt Carle should get 6.5M on the open market based on this deal.

Probably late with this:

Mikhail Grabovski's newly signed five-year contract is worth $27.5 million. Grabovski will now come with a cap hit of $5.5 million, which is the second highest on the Maple Leafs. That's quite a lot for Grabovski, who set a new career-high with 58 points last season and is likely to finish a bit below that in 2011-12. Grabovski is a great secondary scorer, but the Maple Leafs are now paying him money worthy of a first liner. He's 28 years old and we don't expect him to get much better than he already is.
Source: James Mirtle on Twitter

Are you kidding me with this signing? Matt Carle should get 6.5M on the open market.
- stveshdy

One of the hockey pros said it reflects the lack of centers available this summer on the UFA market.

One of the hockey pros said it reflects the lack of centers available this summer on the UFA market.
- bodiva88

I dont like Toronto but you have to be "out there" to give that kind of contract to Mikhail Grabovski. Thats a horrible signing imo.

One of the hockey pros said it reflects the lack of centers available this summer on the UFA market.
- bodiva88

I would have traded him when they had the chance at the deadline. Terrible deal, but I also think it has little affect on Carle and other D men.

For Burke:


"If you can play" campaign


Doing nothing at the TDL and complaining about it

This should make everyone happy:

Sidney Crosby says he is symptom free and has been cleared for contact. He absorbed some contact in practice Tuesday and Sunday is the earliest he could return. This may signal that there truly is a light at the end of the tunnel. Knowing the length of Crosby’s journey back to health, we’re sure nobody is getting overly confident about this development as there have been enough setbacks. How he fares with continued contact will prove to be the ultimate indicator.
Source: Dave Molinari via Twitter

This should make everyone happy:

Sidney Crosby says he is symptom free and has been cleared for contact. He absorbed some contact in practice Tuesday and Sunday is the earliest he could return. This may signal that there truly is a light at the end of the tunnel. Knowing the length of Crosby’s journey back to health, we’re sure nobody is getting overly confident about this development as there have been enough setbacks. How he fares with continued contact will prove to be the ultimate indicator.
Source: Dave Molinari via Twitter
- stveshdy

I really worry about him coming back. Not about the hockey. About him.

Probably late with this:

Mikhail Grabovski's newly signed five-year contract is worth $27.5 million. Grabovski will now come with a cap hit of $5.5 million, which is the second highest on the Maple Leafs. That's quite a lot for Grabovski, who set a new career-high with 58 points last season and is likely to finish a bit below that in 2011-12. Grabovski is a great secondary scorer, but the Maple Leafs are now paying him money worthy of a first liner. He's 28 years old and we don't expect him to get much better than he already is.
Source: James Mirtle on Twitter

Are you kidding me with this signing? Matt Carle should get 6.5M on the open market based on this deal.
- stveshdy

Always a good idea to use centers as comps when signing a defenseman.

This should make everyone happy:

Sidney Crosby says he is symptom free and has been cleared for contact. He absorbed some contact in practice Tuesday and Sunday is the earliest he could return. This may signal that there truly is a light at the end of the tunnel. Knowing the length of Crosby’s journey back to health, we’re sure nobody is getting overly confident about this development as there have been enough setbacks. How he fares with continued contact will prove to be the ultimate indicator.
Source: Dave Molinari via Twitter
- stveshdy

If he comes back, I predict he doesn't make it past the first round of the playoffs. If I am a coach, without taking it to a "running around" after him level, I am having my guys make sure they finish every single check on him, solidly. Also if he comes back I'd be thrilled as a pig in poop if the Flyers send him and the pens golfing in the first round. Right now Philly's goal should be getting to, and locking up the 4th seed.

Always a good idea to use centers as comps when signing a defenseman.
- OrangeBlack27

Im just stating that Carle should be in demand more than a center. The Flyers are going to have to pay him to keep him imo. He is going to be one of the better UFA defenseman out there. Not comparing a center to defenseman but the money and contract. I would think Carle is looking at 5 yr and 30M, could be more.

Congrats to Mark Howe, my second favorite Flyer of all time. This honor is long overdue in my opinion.

Im just stating that Carle should be in demand more than a center. The Flyers are going to have to pay him to keep him imo. He is going to be one of the better UFA defenseman out there. Not comparing a center to defenseman but the money and contract. I would think Carle is looking at 5 yr and 30M, could be more.
- stveshdy

carle and grabo would have been in equal demand based on team's needs. grabo was probably going to be the best center on the market this summer. either way, you can't look at his $5.5mil per and compare it to what carle might get. compare carle to what dmen got last summer: bieksa, wiz, pitkanen, ehrhoff. and the summer before: martin, hamhuis, volchenkov (obviously a totally different player, but he got big money for a defensive defenseman).

someone might give matty 5 years and 30 mil, but good teams who don't have to overpay (like columbus did) will probably be offering more like 4-6 years and 20-30 mil.

carle and grabo would have been in equal demand based on team's needs. grabo was probably going to be the best center on the market this summer. either way, you can't look at his $5.5mil per and compare it to what carle might get. compare carle to what dmen got last summer: bieksa, wiz, pitkanen, ehrhoff. and the summer before: martin, hamhuis, volchenkov (obviously a totally different player, but he got big money for a defensive defenseman).
- OrangeBlack27

If it is going to take $6.5 mil to get Carle, you may as well toss in another $0.5 mil or so and make a serious run at Suter. If Carle wants more than $5.5 mil I'd be inclined to let him walk.

I dont like Toronto but you have to be "out there" to give that kind of contract to Mikhail Grabovski. Thats a horrible signing imo.
- stveshdy

yea that's just an awful signing

LETS GO FLYERS!

If it is going to take $6.5 mil to get Carle, you may as well toss in another $0.5 mil or so and make a serious run at Suter. If Carle wants more than $5.5 mil I'd be inclined to let him walk.
- Lexington Flyer

Agree 100%. Carle won't get 6.5 from anyone, though. Not even Howson. And I think Matty is too smart to take ridiculous money from a team that has no chance of winning.

Agree 100%. Carle won't get 6.5 from anyone, though. Not even Howson. And I think Matty is too smart to take ridiculous money from a team that has no chance of winning.
- OrangeBlack27

I agree anything more than 5.5 for carle is just asinine

yea that's just an awful signing
- 2Real

how come? tied with getzlaf, backes, brad richards in points. ahead of burrows, kesler, BOBBY RYAN, and others.

I wonder what salary Mark Howe in his prime would command in today's market.

Ohh yeah, and I was backpacking over the weekend and didn't get to chime in but how about Frick and Frack the other night? Carter with 2 beauties

Ohh yeah, and I was backpacking over the weekend and didn't get to chime in but how about Frick and Frack the other night? Carter with 2 beauties
- coffee junkie

Blonde, brunette, or redhead?

I wonder what salary Mark Howe in his prime would command in today's market.
- Lexington Flyer

7+

how come? tied with getzlaf, backes, brad richards in points. ahead of burrows, kesler, BOBBY RYAN, and others.
- OrangeBlack27

cause everyone on the leafs is having a career year and they're still missing the playoffs

Agree 100%. Carle won't get 6.5 from anyone, though. Not even Howson. And I think Matty is too smart to take ridiculous money from a team that has no chance of winning.
- OrangeBlack27

The only one I could see him giving a home town discount to would be Minnesota, because he lives up there (wife's home neighborhood).